Mysterious stone throwing.
There appears to be what may be called an epidemic of stone throwing and producing noise in the mysterious manner which we have noted at late as prevalent at the Maclean, in Melbourne, and other places. The Echo says:
During the past week several of the residents of Stanmore, and more particularly one family residing in Marshall-street, have been subjected to considerable annoyance and inconvenience owing to the actions of some mysterious person, who persists in throwing stones on the roofs of the houses, and attempting to open the doors. The disturbances began in Marshall-street early in the week, and, with one or two exceptions, have continued every night since, and, although strenuous efforts have been made to capture the author of them, all the attempts have signally failed.
The performances started with regularity at about a quarter past 7 each evening, and were kept up with very little intermission till very late in the night, or rather, early in the morning. During the whole of the time the inhabitants of the house mentioned were in a state of terror and dismay, which was intensified one evening when a large stone crashed through one of the windows, and did considerable damage. During lulls in the stone-throwing, the unfortunate people in the house could hear persons trying the outer doors of the dwelling, but no one ever entered the place.
One of the plans adopted for the capture of the unwelcome visitor was to leave one of the outer doors unlocked. One of the young men of the house posted himself at the door with his hand on the knob ready to fling the door open directly he heard anyone at it from the outside. Presently there was silence, as if the stone-thrower were resting, and in a few seconds more someone was heard outside trying to open the door. The young man inside opened the door immediately, but there was no one about, and in a minute or two more stones fell on the roof.
On one evening a watch was kept by some neighbours, and they stated that although they distinctly heard someone walking about in the garden in front of the house while the stones were being thrown, yet they could not see anyone. Another neighbour stated that on one evening as he was crossing over to the house, he saw a man jump over the fence into the garden, and when he looked in there was no one to be seen. On one evening one of the young men of the house fired the contents of a revolver into some vines growing in the garden, but there was no result.
The matter was reported to the police, and a constable in plain clothes was stationed in the garden for one evening, but, as no stranger appeared, he was not sent to the house again. Other residents in the vicinity have been treated in a somewhat similar manner, with the exception that no stones have been thrown on the roofs. The continual annoyance to which the residents in the house in Marshall-street have been subjected have told on them very much, and some of them are almost worn out for the want of sleep.
The Maitland Mercury, 16th February 1893.